Signaling device



F. M; BALDWIN. q, SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC.12,192|1.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 1,43sgo1o.

TOR: FREDER/gr /W BALQVV/N,

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

sie."

FREDERICK M. BALDVJIN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAIING DEVICE.

Application led December 12, 1921. Serial No. 521,726.`

in which a display, preferably in the formv of a hand, is operated from the side of the car to indicate that the car is about to stop or turn to the right or the left.

vThe principal object of `my invention is to produce a signaling device of the character described, of simple form and construction, which may be readily attached to the automobile and easily opera-ted from the drivers seat.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a faceview of the signaling device, showing the same mounted upon an automobile and the display in extended position. y y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged face view of the display portion of the signal, showing the same in collapsed or concealed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to F 2, showinfr the display in extended position.

tig. 4 is a sectional plan view on line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5-j-5, Fig. 3. y y

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the operating device for the sig` nal, the parts being separated to more clearly illustrate the construction of thev same. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on line 7-7, Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 .is a perspective view of the operating rod and arms in the position assumed for the purpose of moving the signaling device horizontally, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the controlling arms showing their relation to engaging portions of the operating rod.

, The display apparatus consists of a sheet metalrcase'or box 11 which may be mounted on the windshield or any other convenientpart-4 of they automobile in any approved manner. The case 11 isy provided with a mit the display member to move cover plate 12, ythe .outer side oredge of the case being open, as indicated at 13, to perfreely` into and out of the'case.. f 1 The display member, in the form shown, consists of a plate 14- shaped to resemble a hand, such handbeing mounted uponv lazy tongs indicated at 15, such lazy tongs terminating at their outer end intwo short links 16, vthe ends ofqwhich are pivotally mounted on a pinfor bolt 17 on the hand 14. The next links 18 are pivotally con- .nected` together, af pin- 19 forming` such pivl ot, the pin 19 being slidably mountedl in a guide 2() secured to lthe Aback of the hand 14. The inner set of linlrs'25 forming the lazy tongs are pivotally; mounted attheir inner ends to the short arms lof bellcrank levers 26. and 27. The bell crank levers 26 and 27 are pivotally mounted upon pins or 75 stud bolts 28 and 29 respectively, such pins being supported in the case 11., 4'Fastened to the long arm of the lever27, is a cable 30 which passes over af pulleyy 31 mounted on a pin 32'in the case lland the long arm of thelever 26 is connected to acable-34 which operatesover a pulley 35 mounted upona pin 36in the case 11. Stops are y providedto limit `the movement of -arms 26 and 27, a stop 37 being yprovided for the arm27 and a stop 3,8 ybeing provided for the rm 2 f Tension means are providedin the case to4 elastically hold the displayv in retracted or concealed position which consist of coiled springs 40and 41 which are mounted upon the pins or shafts 29 and 28 respectively,r vthe free end of such springs engaging the outer end of the short arm of levers 27 and 26 respectively, the spring 40 being clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 and spring 41 being of Athe same construction and indicated in dotted lines inFig. 2.. l'The cords or'cables 30 and 34 pass from the case 11 through an `opening 44.V f

The 'signaling or display apparatus may be operatedby a manipulation ofthe cords or cables 30 'and 34 in the followingmanner: 4

Under normal conditions, the rlazy, tongs are in collapsed position shown in F ig. 2 withthehand orvdisplay within the'case, as,k indicated in dotted lines inFig 2; `*I f the vehiclecarrying the signal is abouttoturn, cable 30 is pulled which brings the bell cranky lever 27 into the position shown in full lines in L3, this causes the lazy tongs to be extended into the full line position shown in Fig. 3, that is, outwardly and downwardly, due to the fact that the inner end of the lazy tongs connected to the lever 26 does not move, the movement to the lazy tongs being entirely imparted by the swinging or the bell crank 27. lt will be understood that as the lazy tongs were extended, that the pin 19 on the lazy tongs slides in the guide 20 on the back or' the hand thereby insuring proper alinement of the hand with the lazy tongs.

The action of pulling the cord 80 and moving the hell crank 26 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 is against the spring 40, and a release of the cord 30 allows the spring to exert Yforce against the short arm of the hell crank 27 and retract the lazy tongs into the original position.

1n the event it is desired to move the hands into a horizontal position, both cords 30 and 34 are simultaneously pulled and the saine coacting upon the long arms or the bell cranks 27 and 26 such bell cranks are moved simultaneously into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, thereby causing the lazy tongs to move in a horizontal direction as both bell cranks are given the same amount of movement. rl`he display may be moved into the upper position shown in Fig. 1 by pulling the cable 34 which operates the bell crank 26 while the bell crank 27 remains stationary. Due to the fact that all of the movement in this instance is imparted to the lazy tongs by the bell crank 26, the hand is caused to move outwardly and upwardly in the position shown in Fig. l, such arm being retracted in the same manner as heretolore described with respect to arin 27.

rlfhe placing of the case 11 upon the automobile and in position to extend outwardly therefrom, affords a convenient mounting for a rear sight mirror, as indicated at 46,.

which is preferably mounted upon a ball joint 47 upon a bracket 48 which is secured in any suitable manner to the cover plate 12.

While l have shown and described the dis play apparatus and have explained the operation of the same by manipulation of thev Cords or cables, l prefer to use a specific form ot mechanism for such purpose.

50 designates a steering post to which is attached a bracket 51 by means of a clamp 52, the bracket 51 having a downwardly extending inner end 53 which is engaged between such clamp 52 and the steering post 50. In the outer end oi the bracket 51 is a pulley 55 at one side olf said bracket and pulleys 56 and 57 at the other side of said bracket. The pulley 55 is mounted upon a shaft 58 and the pulleys 56 and 57 are mounted one above another upon a shaft 59.

The cables 30 and 34, after leaving the ifisebio case 11, pass around pulleys 60 and 61 respectively mounted upon a shaft or pin 62 in pulley block 63 wnich is preferably swiveled to a bracket 64 clamped to the steering post 50 by means of a clamp 65. The cables 30 and 34 then extend upwardly through a flexible tube 60 and pass over pulleys 67 which are mounted in the inner end of the bracket 51, only one of such pulleys 67 being shown, the other being of the same size and directly behind the pulley67, as shown in l`ig. 7.

Mounted upon the bracket 51 and extends ing upwardly therefrom is a pin or stud bolt 70 upon which is pivotally mounted the inner ends or arms 71 and 72, the outer end oit such arms being bent to 'form a hook, as shown at 7 3 and 74 respectively. The cable 30 is attached to the hook formed on the arm 71 and the cable 34 attached to the hook 74 on the arm 7 2, such arms being operated by means of an operating rod or lever 75.

This operating rod 75 is pivotally mount` d upon the pin 70, such pin extending lhi'ough an elongated opening 7 7 termed in he inner end oit the lever 75, such elongated. pening 77 having an extension or slot 78 which receives a pin 7 9 mounted in ablock 80 which is secured to the bracket 51 by means of the pin 70. The lever 75 has a lin or web 81 which rides upon seg1nent`82 mounted upon the bracket 51, sulla segment having notches 83, 84, 85 and 86 'formed in the upper face to receive a web 81, the operating rod being elastically held downwardly in engagement with such segment by means of a fiat spring mounted upon the pin 70., the lever 75 and the spring 90 being secured in plac by means or' a bolt 91, the head or which engages a washer 92 on the spring 90, the bolt extending into a threaded opening in the pin 70. The inner end the spring 90 is providedwith a slot 94 to clear 'the pin 79 when the operating rod is moved inwardly or outwardly as hereinafter described.

The outer end oit the lever 75 is provided with a handle 100 by means of which the ame may be easily operated. 101 designates stud mounted upon the rod 85 and extending downwardly ther` from between the two 71 and 72, such arms being cut O web@ away, 'as indicated at 102, to receive such stud. The operating lev-r 75 is also provided with a ringer 105 which, under certain operating conditions, is tar enough away beyond the ends of the' arms 71 and 72 to permit movement of the operating rod without the linger 105 com-ing into engagement with such arms, the operating rod, however, beingv movable inwardly for the vurpose of bringing such linger in relation with the arms 71 and 7 2, as shown in Fig. 8. Such inward movement of the operating rod is against a coiled spring 110 mounted housing 112 which is t'astened or secured to tlie-undersideo` tlie lever 75.

When' it is desired; to operate `the cable 30tor the purpose of moving the hand into the downward position shown in full lines in. Figi 3, thelever. 75 is moved in the direction fof the arrow 120 in Fig. 9. This move' mentf ofi' therlever 75 causes the stud 101l to engage witlithfe arm 1, and'move'such arm *f1-with th'elever 75. Themovement of the arm71 causes thecable 3'0'to be pulled over the pulley 55., such movement exerting a pull on the bell crank 27, as heretofore described. j j

It' will be: understood that' the rod may be retained at the-endof suoli movementby; engagement olffthel webv 81 wit-hthe notch 86 in the'segment 82.. By moving-the lever 75 tothe central position, thatr is, with the web 81 in engagement with the notch 83, the arm 71 is returned to its originalposition by the pull. exerted thereonV bythe cable 30.

When it isdesired"v to.l move the hand into its upward position,"tlie=lever-75 is moved into the direction of the arrow 121, shown in Fig. 9, in which position the stud 101 engages the arm 72 and moves the same, thereby extending a pull on the cable, 34;. The web 81, in this case, engages the notch 85 in the segment 82 and thus is retained in such position.

A release of the lever 75 permits the arm 72 to return to its original position due to the pull of the cable 34 on the arm 72. When it is desired to move the hand straight outwardly in a horizontal direction, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the operating lever is first pushed inwardly toward the steering post until a pin 125 on such rod passes `through the notch 83 to the inside of the segment 82 where, by a slight movement of the lever 75 in the direction of the arrow 121 in Fig. 9, such pin engages the* inside of the segment and is elastically held thereagainst by the spring 110, the inward movement of the operating lever, thus directed, brings the finger 105 from the full line position shown in Fig. 9 to the dotted line position shown in such figure and when in such position, after the lever 75 is moved in the direction of the arrow 121, such finger vengages the arm 71 and such arm engages the arm 72, both arms 71 and 72 being moved in the direction of the arrow 121. This causes a pull on both cables, cable 30 now operating over pulley 56, and an operation of both bell cranks 26 and 27, resulting in the hand moving in a horizontal position, as heretofore described.

A notch 84 is provided in the segment 82 to receive the web 81 when the operating lever has moved both arms 71 and 72, as heretofore described, and the lever 75 remains in such position until suoli webis released from the notch 84. It will be understood that when the operating lever 75 is returned to its central position, that the pin 125- will pass through. the' notch Sain the segment 82 and thereby permit the operati'ngY rod to move outwardly thereby freeinn` tliej linger 105l from the engagement with the arm 71.

l claim as my invention:

1; An automobile signal comprising: a

Supporty-an extensible* display memberon said support consisting of lazy tongs, a pair ofl levers `co'nni'ected to the inner end of saidl lazy tongs, and means for 'operating one of said levers, independently of' the other lever.

2. An automobile signal comprising: a'

levers, and means for yieldingly holding the f.

other lever against movement.

3; Anvr automobile signal comprisingza i support; `an eXtensible display member on said supporty consisting of lazy tongs, a pair oitlevers connected to thel inner `end of said f lazy tongs, a pivotal support for each lever, and. means for operating one of said levers independently of the other lever.

4.. An automobilesignal comprising: a

support; an eXtensible display member consistmg of lazy tongs, a pair of levers connected to the inner end of said lazy tongs,y

means for limiting the movement ofsaid levers in one direction, spring means for yieldingly holding said levers against said limitingmeans,- and means for separately operating either of said levers independently i of the otherl lever. f

5; An automobile signal comprising: a support; an eXtensible-display member consisting` of lazy tongs, a pair of levers connected to the inner/end of said lazy tongs,

means for limiting the4 movement of said levers in one direction, springpm'eans for yieldingly holding said levers against said limiting means, and means for operating said levers separately or simultaneously. y

6. An automobile signal comprising: a support; any extensible displaymember consisting of lazy tongs, a pair of levers connected to the inner end of said lazy tongs, a pivotal support for each lever, means for limiting the movement of said levers in one direction, spring meansfor yieldingly holding said levers against said limiting means, and means for separately operating said levers. y

7. An automobile signal comprising: a support; lazy tongs; a display consisting of a hand, a guide on said hand, a pair of short links on the outer end of said lazy tongs, a pin on said hand pivotally connecting the outer end of said short links, a pin pivotally connecting the next links, said pin extending into and slidably in said guide, and means for operating said lazy tongs.

8. In an automobile signal: a supporting member; an extensible display member consisting of lazy tongs; a pair of bell crank levers connected to the inner end of said lazy tongs, a flexible cable connected to each lever, and means for operating said cables separately or simultaneously.

9. In an automobile signal: a supporting member; an extensible display member consisting of lazy tongs, a pair of bell crank levers connected to the inner end of said tongs, an independent pivotal support for each lever, means for limiting the movement of said levers, an operating cable for each lever, and means for separately or simultaneously operating said cables.

l0. In an automobile signal: a supporting member; an extensible display member consisting of lazy tongs, a pair of levers oonneeted to the inner end of said lazy tongs and operating means for said levers consisting of a pair of pivotally mounted arms, separate cables connecting said arms and levers, and an operating rod arranged to sepneeted to the inner end of said lazy tongs and operating means for said levers consisting of a pair of pivotally mounted arms,

separate cables connecting said arms and levers, and an operating rod arranged to separately or simultaneously operate said arms to extend said lazy tongs, and spring 'means for returning said lazy tongs.

12. In an automobile signal: a supporting member; an extensible display member consisting of lazy tongs, a pair of levers con neoted to the inner end of said lazy tongs and operating means for said levers consisting of a pair of pivotally mounted arms, separate cables connecting said arms/and levers, a pivotally mounted operating rod, and a stud on said rod extending between said arms. Y

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 2d day of December, 1921.

FREDERICK M. BALDVIN. 

